February 16, 2014
Reflection on Lectoring
Has it ever happened to you that someone you don’t know
approaches you and asks, “Don’t you lector at Mass on Sundays?” Although
people may not even know your name, they will often remember what you do.
Experiencing an encounter like the one above can prompt a
person to think about the connection between who he or she is and what he or
she does. Whether you are a doctor, a
teacher, a supermarket clerk or a lector, people often remember who you are based
on the service you provide.
A few Sundays ago, identity was an important theme in the
readings. In the first reading, Isaiah
recounted how the Lord “formed me as his
servant from the womb” (Isaiah 49:5).
On the same Sunday in the second reading, Paul says that by the will of
God he was “called to be an apostle of
Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:1).
Both Isaiah and Paul knew they had a calling to do
something important. Despite feelings of
inadequacy, Isaiah and Paul knew that “who they were” and “what they did” were
intimately bound together. And because their
human freedom allowed them to accept or reject God’s call, they were free to
make an authentic commitment.
An authentic call to be a lector must first come from
God. Then it is up to us to make our
response to that call equally as authentic.
The best doctors, teachers, supermarket clerks and lectors are those who
work hardest at making a real connection between who they are and what they do.
It is this kind of real connection that the people in the
assembly will remember. It is this kind
of connection that makes a Scripture proclamation memorable.
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First Reading - Sirach 15: 15-20
The Drama of Choices
This week’s Reflection on Lectoring talks about our human
freedom to choose - a freedom to choose between being our authentic selves as
God wishes, or to stray from the mark. It
is a two-edged sword. Nevertheless, it is
also a necessary part of our human nature, making it possible for our actions
to have merit. Freedom is an integral
part of the human drama.
Today’s first reading from Sirach is all about the drama
of choices. We have the freedom to
choose between “life and death, good and
evil.” And we shall receive whichever
one we choose. To make our understanding
of choice even more vivid, Sirach says God “has
set before you fire and water, to whichever you choose, stretch forth your
hand.”
Sirach goes on to say, “Immense is the wisdom of the Lord.” Is it wise for our Creator to allow his
creatures to put their hands into the fire?
Perhaps he knows that our actions have merit only if we are allowed to
choose. Perhaps he also knows that free
will is a prerequisite for acquiring genuine wisdom.
Sirach says a lot in five verses. As you prepare this reading, you also have
the freedom to meditate on the insights that are most important to you.
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Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
True Wisdom
How many truly wise people have you met? What are the signs that let you know someone
is truly wise? In today’s second
reading, Paul talks about speaking “a
wisdom to those who are mature.” And
If, as he says, it is not “a wisdom of
this age,” what then is mature wisdom?
Paul goes on to complicate the discussion of wisdom by
saying God’s wisdom is a “mysterious,
hidden” wisdom.” In part he is saying
that the crucifixion defies a certain kind of human logic. But the question remains, if true wisdom is
mysterious and hidden, how can we acquire it?
There is a paradox about being wise. Truly wise people recognize how little they
know. Truly wise people are also more
likely to feel comfortable knowing that only God has the complete answer. While on earth we are destined to have more
questions than answers.
Can we be comfortable with the insecurity of incomplete
understanding? Can we trust that God really
does have the answers? Perhaps that is
the beginning of true wisdom.
Today’s second
reading is all about questions and answers, wisdom and confidence. As lectors, you have the opportunity to invite
your hearers at Mass to consider what true wisdom is.
© George Fournier 2014
